Baseball: Lancers top Pitt

Friday

Apr 4, 2014 at 12:01 AMApr 4, 2014 at 12:04 AM

LCC collected eight runs in sixth inning to defeat Pitt CC.

Jessika Morgan / Sports Editor

Wednesday afternoon was good preparation for Lenoir Community College’s upcoming series with the team just one spot ahead of them in the NCJAA Region 10 rankings: Rockingham Community College in Wentworth.

LCC (16-13, 5-7 Region 10) had no issue putting the bat on the ball early on, which paid off in the sixth inning when the Lancers took the final lead over old rivalPitt Community College.

And it got ugly.

The Lancers collected eight runs and six hits in the sixth frame to aid in a 12-7 victory over the Bulldogs, who committed three of their five errors in the inning.

“That was nice, I wish we could do that all the time,” LCC coach Stony Wine said. “They had some errors, which has happened to us plenty of times this year. We put a few timely hits together, and when you’re at home, you’re supposed to be able to do that a little bit more.

“We were fortunate to be able to do that, and a lot of that was with two outs.”

LCC sophomore Tee McConnell was thrown out to start the sixth, which was clearly not a prelude to how the frame would play out.

The next seven batters scored a run, and when it came back around to McConnell, he recorded a two-run single to left andwas eventually batted in by freshman shortstop Spencer Phillips.

Cory Nygard was thrown out to end LCC’s streak of production, exiting the inning with a hit, an RBI and two runs.

Sophomore Chastin Radford also scored a pair of runs in the sixth, leading the Lancers with three total. He was 3-of-5 with an RBI and three singles.

PCC facedeight Lenoir pitchers, with sophomore Caleb Kearney earning the win. He pitched two innings, allowing two hits, a run and walked one of the seven batters he threw against.

Brandon Tant got the start.

“During the week, we get our pitchers work in,” Wine said. “We have one every inning after the first couple, so that’s common. If one guy wasn’t getting it done, we were going to bring someone in real quick right behind him because that’s what it’s about.”

Overall, the Lancers gave up 17 hits, including a pair of doubles, and two Bulldogs had multi-run games. After a damaging sixth, PCC scored four more times before Robbie Hiser threw two strikeouts — one which ended the ball game on three consecutive strikes.

LCC delivered a well-rounded performance, highlighted Hiser’s home run to lead off the bottom of the second.

The air stilled with anticipation as the ball soared high to left field and cleared the fence. The Lancers would get off only one hit before Pitt’s Tyler Britton retired the side.

“Everybody contributed,” Wine said. “We just have to continue to get better as we make a charge toward the tournament. This weekend is big.”

LCC travels to Rockingham for a weekend series starting Saturday.

Jessika Morgan can be reached at 252-559-1078 and Jessika.Morgan@Kinston.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessikaMorgan.